Of the many decisions voters in McDonough County had to make on Tuesday, an advisory resolution over establishment of a concealed firearms law was one of the most prominent.

County residents overwhelmingly supported such a law in an 8,082-3,735 vote.

The resolution is only an advisory measure, which, if passed is intended to let the county board know that McDonough County residents support some sort of concealed firearms legislation.

District 3 Board Member Lee Trotter said Tuesday that he voted against the resolution on Tuesday, as he has never seen a reason to "strap on a weapon" in McDonough County.

Trotter also said the McDonough County Democrat Coalition, of which he is the chairman, has never taken an official position on concealed carry legislation.

"It's a Springfield and a Washington D.C. issue, not a McDonough County issue," he said, adding that any decision on the matter should be made at the state-level, and not from county to county.

Republican Congressional candidate Steve Waterworth, said while he does not have a big problem with concealed carry legislation, he favors open carry legislation more.

"I feel more at ease around people who are willing to let you know that they're carrying a pistol," he said. "I don't have much of a problem with concealed carry, but I like open carry much better."

Both state Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, and his Republican challenger Randy Frese on Tuesday said they were in favor of concealed carry in the state, ultimately supporting the individual county referendums on Tuesday's ballot.

"We're the only state out of 50 that denies the right to carry," Frese said. "We are behind the curve."

Had he been elected, Frese said concealed carry was the first non-financial issue he'd planned to address in Springfield.

"I am supportive of it," Sullivan said of the referendums. "I think everybody understands that … it's not going to make a difference on a county being able to issue concealed carry permits. It does send a message on the local level for concealed carry legislation."

Sullivan said well-crafted, working legislation is needed and ought to include an educational component and potential background checks.

Adams, Warren, McDonough and Schuyler Counties all carried the advisory measure on their ballots, and the measure was passed in every county. The Adams County resolution passed with about 77 percent of the vote. Warrant County passed it's concealed carry measure with 73 percent of the vote. In McDonough County, the measure passed with 68 percent of the vote and Schuyler County passed its resolution with 81 percent of votes cast.

McDonough County Voice Editor Jackie Smith contributed to this report.